I'm buzzing with ideas for this — if you want a challenge that truly spans every book genre, try a year-long 'passport' approach where each month is a different literary region and genre combo.
Start by listing broad genres: mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, literary fiction, historical, horror, memoir, biography, travel, science, philosophy, poetry, graphic novels, short stories, essays, YA, MG, children's picture books, cookbooks, religion/spirituality, true crime, drama, sports, art/design, and an open 'wildcard' slot. Assign one or two of those to each month and deliberately pick subgenres (e.g., cozy mystery, space opera, climate fiction) so you don't bounce between similar picks. Swap months if a release you want arrives — flexibility keeps it fun.
Track progress in a simple journal or a spreadsheet, add short mini-goals like 'one translated book' or 'one debut' and finish with a wrap-up post or discussion with friends. I love pairing an audiobook with a print book for busy months; it helps me get through denser nonfiction or poetry. This kind of passport challenge turns reading into a mini-adventure without feeling punitive — you end the year richer in variety and recommendations.